Doctors: Health Minister Balbir Sidhu’s remark irresponsible

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 22

A day after the Punjab Health Minister issued a warning to get the vaccine jab or lose quarantine leave, doctors today termed his statement “irresponsible”.

Condemning the remark, the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association (PSMDTA) said the minister could not put a condition for Covid vaccination. The minister, as per isolation guidelines, could not deny quarantine leave and free treatment, it said. The association said the statement of the minister was a “dictatorial one”.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr DS Bhullar, state general secretary, PSMDTA, said, “This shows the attitude of the state government towards Covid warriors. If the government wants to deny legitimate allowance for not getting the jab, the ruling should be extended to all government departments and not to health workers only.”

State president Dr Vijay Bodal said, “When the health workers are taking all precautions, the minister need not worry about their safety.”

Meanwhile, new recruits of the Health Department said instead of using soft measures such as incentives, the government was resorting to coercion. Meanwhile, the PSMDTA appealed to health professionals to shun hesitation and come forward to get vaccinated.

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